Senate committee approves Kansas State Department of Education budget after debate over special education funding

The Senate Committee on Ways and Means approved the Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) budget for fiscal years 2025–2027 as amended, after extended debate over special education funding and several failed motions to restore specific line items.

Committee member Senator Erickson reported the KSDE budget by WebEx and moved that the committee report the FY2025, FY2026 and FY2027 budgets favorably. The motion was seconded and later carried when the committee voted to approve the package as amended.

Why it matters: Debate focused on whether the House and Senate recommendations adequately meet the state’s court‑ordered school funding obligations under the Gannon litigation and whether particular expenditures removed from the committee’s substitute for House Bill 2007 should be restored. Committee members argued about maintenance‑of‑effort items that they described as already encumbered or paid in FY2025 and about longer‑term special education adequacy.

Discussion and actions: Senator…